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  1. #1
    Member MattBigmonster's Avatar
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    Idea for lighter tree huggers.

    I have just switched to the whoopie hook suspension from dutchware. Convenience without the weight and fiddle fsctor of MSH. But the tree huggers are still more than half of the weight of the whole system, and are only 20% of the whole suspention.

    If the dyneema is strongest for it's weight, than would it be possible to plait/weave a strap from amsteel? Something like this:

    http://annaworden.files.wordpress.co...ple-labled.jpg

    http://cs.jewelrymakingmagazines.com...chstrap-80.jpg

    Something like a braid or paracord bracelet. This would give you a one piece/all amsteel suspension.
    What do you think.

  2. #2
    Senior Member olddog's Avatar
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    I'm thinking that it would take a lot of amsteel to make say a 4' hugger and once made it could weigh even more than a 4' polyester strap. But if so you could turn it into a survival belt.
    Most of us end up poorer here but richer for being here. Olddog, Fulltime hammocker, 365 nights a year.

  3. #3
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    I think that's an interesting idea.

    I agree that the tree straps we use for hammock hanging are relatively bulky & heavy. It would be great if a lighter alternative could be found. Thanks for thinking outside-the-box

    That being said, I think that an Amsteel woven webbing would be nearly, if not heavier, than an equivalent width poly strap. And, several times more expensive.

    I think a small diameter polyester cord woven using an open weave to a width between 1/2" and 1" might be lighter, but not by much.

    I've used 3/4" wide polyester straps on thickly barked pine trees without any outwardly visible damage to the bark or tree. However, there's been discussion on this forum regarding strap damage to trees. The subject of strap damage on trees can be contentious as "damage" can be very subjective. There are many variables. And, opinions vary widely.

    What type & width of tree straps are you currently using?

  4. #4
    Senior Member Bic's Avatar
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    What about using an open ended whoopie and a small piece of webbing to only go around the back of the tree? That would cut down considerably on the amount of webbing needed.
    The camper formerly known as HikingDad...

  5. #5
    Senior Member Bushwhacker's Avatar
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    It's probably easier just to make cuben fiber tree straps
    https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...ad.php?t=57084
    which is basically the same material as Dyneema (UHMWPE).

  6. #6
    Member MattBigmonster's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by hikingdad View Post
    What about using an open ended whoopie and a small piece of webbing to only go around the back of the tree? That would cut down considerably on the amount of webbing needed.
    Thats what Im using now, dutchware system with whoopie permanently attached to the tree hugger.

    The CF idea is intriguing...

  7. #7
    Member MattBigmonster's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by hikingdad View Post
    What about using an open ended whoopie and a small piece of webbing to only go around the back of the tree? That would cut down considerably on the amount of webbing needed.
    Thats what Im using now, dutchware system with whoopie permanently attached to the tree hugger.

    The CF idea is intriguing...

  8. #8
    Senior Member
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    At 1.6 oz for a 6'x1" 1500# tree strap, I'm not too concerned.

  9. #9
    Senior Member Fire-Bug's Avatar
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    I posted this under the other referenced thread above, but figured it pertained here as well...

    What if the straps were made from hybrid cuben fiber, like the material in the bear bag referenced below:

    http://lukesultralite.com/content/cr...g-hybrid-cuben

    Not sure what the final weight would be on them, but they sound strong enough at first glance. Thoughts everyone?

  10. #10
    Senior Member FLRider's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bushwhacker View Post
    It's probably easier just to make cuben fiber tree straps
    https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...ad.php?t=57084
    which is basically the same material as Dyneema (UHMWPE).
    The dyneema fibers in the Cuben fiber are sandwiched between mylar films. The mylar holds them in a particular orientation, which is what gives the material its strength. Mylar is notably not abrasion-resistant compared to a (relatively thick) polyester strap. Once that mylar is damaged, the fibers may wind up going in any direction, causing a catastrophic failure.

    Which is what happens most often with Cuben tarps, stuffsacks, and packs: it isn't a burst-style failure from overloading the material's tensile strength, it's an hole or holes rubbed in the material from abrasion causing the fibers around it/them to go every-which-way. Now you're talking about putting this material into an high-abrasion environment (think about it rubbing on rough bark every time you get into or out of the hammock, or even when the wind blows and rocks the hammock). Plain and simple, I wouldn't. Cuben is a wonderful material in pull strength and waterproofness for weight. It isn't a cure-all, though.

    TL;DR: Don't use Cuben for this application. It ain't suited for it.


    Quote Originally Posted by Fire-Bug View Post
    I posted this under the other referenced thread above, but figured it pertained here as well...

    What if the straps were made from hybrid cuben fiber, like the material in the bear bag referenced below:

    http://lukesultralite.com/content/cr...g-hybrid-cuben

    Not sure what the final weight would be on them, but they sound strong enough at first glance. Thoughts everyone?
    Maybe. The nylon shell will be more abrasion resistant than the Cuben, for sure. On the other hand, it won't be any more abrasion resistant than a (relatively-thick) polyester strap, it will stretch at a different rate than the underlying material, and may very well wind up being heavier on the whole than a straight poly strap.

    This is one of those things that would need to be tried somewhere with a decent landing pad, and won't be cheap (considering the cost of Cuben, especially hybrid Cuben, versus polyester). I'd look forward to seeing the results of it.
    "Just prepare what you can and enjoy the rest."
    --Floridahanger

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